Precision‐Engineered Electronic Modulation of Ruthenium Clusters and Single Atoms on Vacancy‐Rich α‐MoC <sub>1‐</sub> <i> <sub>x</sub> </i> Enables Efficient Electrocatalytic Water Splitting
Abstract
ABSTRACT Maximizing the utilization of active metals while maintaining efficient catalytic activity is of great importance for electrocatalytic alkaline hydrogen evolution reaction. Herein, we report a facile pyrolysis strategy to anchor Ru clusters and adjacent Ru single atoms on α‐MoC 1‐x coated carbon nanospheres (termed as Ru CS/SA /α‐MoC 1‐x /C). Theoretical calculations combined with in situ characterizations reveal that an electron‐bridging mechanism whereby Ru single atoms donate electrons to the defective α‐MoC 1‐ x , which subsequently transfers electron to Ru clusters, enabling a cooperative modulation of the electronic structure across different types of Ru sites. Therefore, the dual excitation of Ru single atoms and α‐MoC 1‐x weakens the binding strength between Ru clusters and H*, accelerates the desorption of H 2 . The as‐obtained 3%‐Ru CS/SA /α‐MoC 1‐x /C sample attains an excellent overpotential of 9 mV at 10 mA cm −2 along with a mass activity of 20.38 A mg −1 Ru (‐100 mV) and a turnover frequency of 1.71 H 2 s −1 at 25 mV, which is larger than those of 20% Pt/C. Moreover, Both the anion exchange membrane water electrolysis cells and Zn–H 2 O batteries employing 3%‐Ru CS/SA /α‐MoC 1‐x /C as the cathode electrocatalyst exhibit exceptional performance.
Article Details
Authors (7)
Jixin Yao
Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Simulation and Design for Electronic Information System, Universities Joint Key Laboratory of Photoelectric Detection Science and Technology in Anhui Province Hefei Normal University Hefei 230601 China
Jie Wang
State Key Laboratory of Molecular Oncology, Beijing Key Laboratory, CAMS Key Laboratory of Translational Research on Lung Cancer, Department of Medical Oncology Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences Beijing China
Wen Wang
Haifeng Xu
Dongmeng Chen
College of Science China University of Petroleum Qingdao 266580 P.R. China
Guang Li
Zhong Jin
State Key Laboratory of Coordination Chemistry, MOE Key Laboratory of Mesoscopic Chemistry, MOE Key Laboratory of High Performance Polymer Materials and Technology, Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Green Energy Catalysis and Intelligent Chemical Engineering, Suzhou Key Laboratory of Green Intelligent Manufacturing of New Energy Materials and Devices, Tianchang New Materials and Energy Technologies Research Center, Institute of Green Chemistry and Engineering, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering